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Roberts lends famous feet for Red Sox exhibit

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PEORIA, Ariz. -- Sculptor Douglas Borkman of the Rhode Island School of Design was wandering the back fields of the Padres' Spring Training facility a week ago, though he wasn't trying to work on his tan while on vacation.

Instead, Borkman was working on some feet.

Borkman was in town to collect the footprints of Padres first-base coach Dave Roberts for an exhibit that will be on display this season at Fenway Park in Boston.

Roberts -- he of the celebrated stolen base during the 2004 American League Championship Series against the Yankees -- willingly obliged, dropping his feet into a body casting mix called Alja-Safe.

Borkman has been collecting handprints and footprints of several notable Red Sox, including Jerry Remy, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Jason Varitek and Carl Yastrzemski, among others. They will be displayed starting on Opening Day for a brick area near Gates B and C at Fenway Park.

Wally the Green Monster, the team's official mascot, will get a brick as well.

"I was excited. To be paired with a lot of the Red Sox greats … it's great," Roberts said. "To get my feet cast and molded and having a place at Fenway Park is pretty special to me."

Roberts' feet were set in a paver that measured 19 inches by 19 inches.

Tim Wakefield did a knuckleball grip, while Roberts gladly offered a mold of his feet, the ones that were responsible for stealing the most important base in Red Sox history, one propelling them out of an 0-3 hole in the ALCS and to the World Series, where they swept the Cardinals for their first title since 1918.

Roberts said he plans to visit the display when the Padres travel to Boston for a three-game series that starts on July 2.